Destination Imagination teams hope to make it to world competition

Ruth CampbellMidland Reporter-Telegram

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, March 31, 2008

Midland ISD's Destination Imagination squads are hoping teamwork, creativity and a dash of luck will propel them to world competition. But first they have to get past participants at the state level April 4-5 in Round Rock.

"We'll have teams that make it to the global finals (in Knoxville, Tenn.), but getting out of Texas is very difficult," said Sara Burleson, who teaches the DI kids along with Carla Thomas.

Destination Imagination is a program where students are divided into teams of five to seven members to work together to apply creativity, critical thinking and their particular talents to solve a team challenge, according to the DI Web site.

Top teams in each of 16 state regions go on to Round Rock. Twenty-six students in fifth and sixth grade and one high school team will go to state. Some of the youngsters are experienced at the state and world level.

Challenges confronted by the teams are different every year.

"It's totally in how they solve the challenge," Burleson said. "… We're very excited and we're hoping we have some teams make it the global finals. You have no idea what anyone else is going to present. We're hopeful that we have four teams capable of winning at state. … But who knows?"

The Monday/Tuesday group, which meets Monday and Tuesday at Carver Center, is working on a project called "Obstacles Of Course," which includes a radio controlled car and various impediments it has to traverse. They also perform a skit.

Students said they have been working on the obstacle assignment since December. They had to have a vehicle, but the type was not specified, Burleson said.

Chandler Cavitt, who built the car, said he figured out what he wanted to create by viewing suspension and steering on commercial R/C cars on the Internet. He said his team's vehicle is better.

Cavitt's father helped him research - a little bit - and showed him how to weld. "I've always been interested in building stuff from scratch. It's the only thing I've ever done," except build an elevator for a project last year, he said.

Although the work is hard, students enjoy working and spending time together. "We've become somewhat of a family," McKenna Smith said.

"It's fun to work with people your own age that have the same interests. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses," Bethany Shropshire said.

"It's a very good life experience because you get to work with things you usually don't get to work with," Shropshire added.

The youngsters acknowledge they would not be where they are without help from their teachers who supply them with all the materials they need. They have fun, but they also work hard, spending so much time together, they can complete each other's sentences.

"I'm proud of my teammates," Smith said. "It's been an amazing experience to work with (them)."

The whole experience has broadened the students' horizons and made learning enjoyable.

"You get to learn things you never knew existed," Shropshire said. "It makes you want to go as far as you can. It's an amazing experience."

1st Midland Enhanced Academic Services high schools group (combination of ninth graders from Midland and Lee high schools)-DI've Got a Secret

1st Midland Monday/Tuesday sixth grade -Obstacles of Course

1st Midland Wednesday/Thursday-DI've Got a Secret

1st Midand Monday/Tuesday fifth grade-Hit or Myth

5th Midland Wednesday/Thursday fifth-DI've Got a Secret

Renaissance Awards, given for outstanding skill in engineering, design or performance

Midland Monday/Tuesday sixth grade Obstacles of Course

Midland Wednesday/Thursday-DI've Got a Secret

DaVinci Award, given for having a unique approach to a solution, risk taking and/or outstanding creativity. It is the highest award in Destination Imagination: Midland Monday/Tuesday sixth grade Obstacles of Course and Midland EAS high Schools group-DI've Got a Secret